The workers have spent countless hours applying for temporary work, any work, many times and instances with not one reply. Despite all of this, I realize how blessed we are.

You may be thinking, blessed? I look at our bare Christmas tree, and I don't want anyone to feel sorry for us. Do you know why?

What we are giving our children (though I am sure they do not quite understand or see it yet) is a sense of what is truly important. Standing up and fighting for what you believe. Sacrifice. For our future. For theirs.

While so very many do not understand the fight of the middle class striking union employee and are quick to judge and say "just go back to work already!!" they simply do not understand.

Our families and children have seen unbelievably selfless acts of kindness from strangers, friends and family. Sadly, they have also learned of those that haven't supported us, or just sort of "stayed away" as to enjoy their own "perfect little worlds."

It's OK. We forgive you. I pray you are never in this situation.

In the end, we will win this fight. I refuse to believe that the selfish and greedy will win over the solidarity of this family.

And in the end, Christmas, will never again (for our family at least) be about how much money you can spend and Black Friday.

James Fouts

Fairfax

Vermont Gas shocks again

I was shocked in July when Vermont Gas announced a 40 percent increase in the cost of the pipeline project to be built from Colchester to Middlebury.

At that time I expected the Public Service Board to re-evaluate the project and, quite possibly, revoke its approval. Now Vermont. Gas has announced another increase, this time to $154 million.

This additional increase brings the increases for this project to 79 percent. And Vermont Gas has alerted the public that the cost is "dynamic."

I certainly hope that the Public Service Board revokes the approval for this project.

In private enterprises a 79 percent increase in any project would not only cause a re-evaluation of the project but would certainly result in the people responsible suffering some strong disciplinary action, including the possibility of dismissal.

However, Vermont Gas is a company governed by the state. And it is a company whose revenue is "guaranteed" by the rates it charges and the rates that the customers pay. I am wondering if such a system with "forgiveness for poor performance" tends to make the management of Vermont Gas not good stewards of our money.

I hope that the Public Service Board does its job and revokes the permit for this project.

Norbert Lavigne

Burlington

Make 2015 year of going meatless

It's time for New Year's resolutions, particularly those about our health. Although gun violence remains the leading cause of death among young people, our most dangerous weapon is still our fork. Forty-five times as many die of chronic diseases linked to a diet containing animal products, sugar and salt.

Hardly a month goes by without another study linking consumption of animal products with obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain cancers. No reputable study has ever shown an opposite result.

But times are changing. Hundreds of schools, colleges, hospitals, and corporate cafeterias, have embraced Meatless Monday. According to a Gallup poll, 22 percent of American consumers are avoiding meat and 12 percent are avoiding dairy products. Harris Interactive claims that 47 percent of American consumers are reducing consumption of animal products.

Accordingly, plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products are growing explosively, propelled by investments from Microsoft, Paypal, and Twitter founders. Fast-food chains like Chipotle, Subway, and Taco Bell are rolling out vegan options.

Let this New Year's resolution be about exploring the rich variety of plant-based entrees, lunch meats, cheeses, ice creams, and milks in our supermarket. The internet offers tons of recipes and transition tips.

Bradley McNaulty

Burlington

The verdict is in on the F-35

I'm grateful to Larry Jackson for his My Turn (11/28) re: only the "everyday risks" that the F-35s pose. It helps to keep the issue in the forefront of public concern.

My only regret is the way that he characterizes those who would differ with his conclusion that "the F-35 is no more dangerous to us or our community than any other aircraft, fuel tanker…or food/drug health risks." Those who would differ are simply not looking at the issue "objectively." They are "not representing the issue in a balanced way."

Among those who would differ is Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) who called the F-35 "both a scandal and a tragedy, the worst example of the military-industrial-congressional complex." Then there is the Air Force Times that in their articles and editorials echoed the senator's criticism.

In his research Jackson seems oblivious of the Air Force's official report (the EIS, the Environmental Impact Statement) and what it has to say regarding the crash risk and flight hours. In the EIS they report and show charts which indicate that the F-35 will barely have 100,000 flight hours before it arrives here. This amount of hours may impress the layperson whereas it is minuscule in flight training. By comparison the current F-16 had over a million flight hours before it arrived here making it far safer than the F-35 with regard to crashes.

Among the many reasons put forth by those not in support of this poorly performing plane such as it can't fly in the rain or provide protection for ground forces, one that I find especially compelling is that it relies on outdated stealth technology.

It remains a mystery to me why our otherwise outstanding congressional delegation is in support of this misguided weapons system. Are they or Larry Jackson being objective?